WALES'S chances of competing in Euro 2004 took a giant leap forward last night after being promised they WILL get their day in court.

WALES'S chances of competing in Euro 2004 took a giant leap forward last night after being promised they WILL get their day in court.

Matthieu Reeb, the top legal expert with the all-powerful Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), revealed that Uefa's own rule book dictates they must attend a hearing in Lausanne.

And Reeb confirmed that should CAS find in favour of the FAW over the Yegor Titov doping affair they have the power to boot Russia out of the summer finals in an all-binding legal decision that would send shock waves around the footballing world.

Last night Uefa's Head of Communications William Gaillard confirmed: "Wales have appealed to CAS and UEFA cannot and would not disapprove.

"In line with our legislation, Wales have a right to appeal to the Court of Arbitration. Therefore, they WILL have their day in court."

Welsh footballing chiefs always knew their best chance of success would be at CAS but had wrongly believed they needed Uefa's blessing to take the case to a third appeal.

But CAS General Secretary Reeb revealed exclusively to Wales on Sunday: "This case will be heard at CAS.

"There is a clause in Uefa's statutes which requires it to refer cases to us. The rules are there that CAS is a legal remedy for Uefa in these situations."

And they have never shied away from making the big decisions. Now the dreams of a nation are resting on the hope they are ready to make an even bigger call.

The FAW and their medical experts will be able to set out their case in person in front of a panel of three judges some time next month with each side nominating one of the panel, with the chairman appointed by CAS.

They will be allowed to present all of the evidence over the Titov case after being prevented from doing so at an unsuccessful Uefa appeal on March 19.

The FAW made their application on Tuesday and Uefa now have 17 days left to reply to CAS.

Reeb said: "There is no formal date for this case yet because we are awaiting a response from Uefa.

"We need to receive a return answer from Uefa and I hope we can resolve the situation as soon as possible.

"The main point now is that we need to know the constitution of the panel which will be decided next week. My hope is that we can do this as soon as possible.

"It [the hearing] will probably not happen before May 15 or 20 but in a situation like this the panel will deliberate and make their decision within a couple of hours of hearing the case.

"It will all take place in one day.

"Theoretically there would still be a right to go to the Swiss Federal Tribunal, the highest court in Switzerland, but only on limited grounds and only if we have violated our own legal procedures."

The FAW has already splashed out more than #125,000 on trying to prove its case using a top barrister and medical experts from around the globe.

It has cost them just #220 to register the case with CAS but the legal bill will swell still further when costs are added.

Spartak Moscow midfielder Titov was banned from international football for one year after traces of banned substance Bromantan were found in his system following the first leg of the European Championship play-off against Wales in November.

Wales lost the second leg 1-0 with Titov playing most of the game before being substituted.

Despite Welsh appeals Uefa have so far been unwilling to punish the Russian Football Federation for Titov's cheating, claiming there is no precedent for such drastic action.

But throughout, led by boss Mark Hughes, the Welsh have maintained they are right to demand the expulsion of the Russians from Euro 2004, which kicks off on June 12.

Reeb added: "The Wales federation have requested that CAS find that this was a doping case involving Mr Titov and that appropriate sanctions should be taken against Russia."

Even at this late stage Welsh officials say they are ready to pack their bags for Portugal and replace Russia in group A. Head of international affairs Mark Evans told WoS before the previous hearing that flights have been booked and hotel arrangements prepared in the event of a successful outcome.

The story so far ...

November 15: Wales show grit and determination to hold Russia 0-0 in Moscow in the first-leg of the Euro 2004 play-off.

November 19: Heartbreak for Wales. Mark Hughes' men lose 1-0 in the second play-off leg at the Millennium Stadium. Vadem Evseev's solitary first-half goal leaves the nation's dreams - once more - in tatters. A certain Yegor Titov was subsituted just before the hour-mark.

January 23: UEFA drop the bombshell that Titov has failed a drugs test following that first-leg in the Lokomotiv Stadium. The banned stimulant Bromantan was found in his system after a game during which he was an unused substitute. He was immediately banned from playing for 12 months, plus he was fined #4,420. The Welsh FA complain to UEFA, claiming the drug was still in Titov's system for the second-leg four days later, in which he played. The FAW insist the second leg be declared null and void.

February 3: UEFA's Control and Disciplinary body reject Wales' written appeal to throw Russia out of Euro 2004, concluding the case was unfounded. Wales decide to appeal for a second time.

March 19: Wales appeal to UEFA once again. This time the Football Association of Wales solicitors' state their case in person.

But UEFA's appeals panel rejects Wales' argument that Russia's play-off win against Wales should NOT stand due to Yegor Titov's failed drug test.

April 19: The Football Association of Wales announce they will take their appeal against UEFA's decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Some other famous CAS cases

THE court of arbitration in sport has dealt with some major cases since it began in 1984.

The brainchild of Olympic president Juan Antonio Samaranche, its inception came about because of the increase in the number of sport-related legal disputes.

In the past it has taken a particularly hard line on drugs offences. The Scottish skier Alain Baxter, who was found to have an illegal substance in his body after using a nasal inhaler during the winter olympics at Salt Lake City, took his case to them after being stripped of his bronze medal. He lost and the decision stood.

In another high-profile case, Andreea Raducan, largely regarded as Romania's best female gymnast since Nadia Comaneci, turned to CAS when she lost her Olympic gold. Raducan claimed she was unaware cold tablets contained a banned substance.

CAS again backed the IOC view and threw out the appeal.

They're tremblin in the Kremlin

NEWS of the FAW's latest appeal over the Titov case has been met with a mixture of disbelief and scorn in Russia. The Russians have come to view the affair as an irritating fly in the ointment, and one that just won't go away.

For Russian football federation chief Vyacheslav Koloskov, in particular, the timing of Wales' latest appeal has been an extremely unwelcome distraction, which prompted an angry outburst this week.

"Welsh chances remain as slim as ever," said Koloskov. "However, they are succeeding in stirring things up again. Their stubbornness is second to none, but they are trying to prove the unprovable."

Koloskov spent much of the last week in Cyprus, preparing to defend his place on the FIFA and UEFA executive committees.

If he was worried that these had been placed in jeopardy by the Bromantan affair, he can now breathe easy. It seems that the drugs scandal has failed to damage Koloskov's reputation in the eyes of the world and European governing bodies, and on Friday morning he was safely re-elected to both committees.

Now he just has the small matter of Wales to deal with. And speaking on the eve of the FIFA and UEFA elections in Cyprus, he couldn't disguise his contempt for his adversaries.

"I feel genuinely sorry for them. They have sunk to such depths that they have completely lost a grip of reality," he added. "This is not at all like the British, who I've always expected to behave like proper gentlemen."

Koloskov brushed off suggestions that Russia's passage to Portugal had once more been placed in doubt, saying that he would be surprised if any conclusive appeal decision was announced before the tournament. "It's very hard to make predictions, but it's most likely [a decision] will only take place after the European Championships have finished."